Computer issues

[tywuest]

Well now that the weather is finally staring to get good i want to get out and start caching. I have a problem. My computer will not talk to my GPS.. Everything was working good last year and all of a sudden now it does not work?

Here is my setup:

I use an old windows 2000 pc that i have mapsource and gsak running on. I have a garmin vista gps. I connect the gps via serial cable to the pc.
When i try and load different maps in via mapsource it says that “there is a problem with COM1 access is denied” I get a similar message when i try and load caches thru gsak.

It has been a few months since i used this thing. I dont know what i am doing wrong. Nothing has changed with the pc. I barely use the pc and there should not be any problems with that.

I also use a palm for paperless caching. I have yet to try and update that because i am so frustrated with the gps not working.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[EnergySaver]

First thing I’d try …

(1) Turn off the computer.

(2) Find were the cable you use with the Garmin connects on the back of your computer … make sure you keep track of where it was plugged in.

(3) Unplug the cable, then plug it back in … make sure it’s in all the way.

(4) Fire up the computer and see if it now works.

I’m thinking that if you didn’t change anything and didn’t use the computer much, that maybe the connection got bumped when you were vacumming or something, and it wasn’t tight enough to work.

[tywuest]

I tried that too. I restarted it a bunch of times and plugged and unplugged it a bunch.. Nothing is loose. That is what confuses me even more.

[Jeremy]

@tywuest wrote:

I also use a palm for paperless caching. I have yet to try and update that because i am so frustrated with the gps not working.

Is the Palm an old serial Palm that you also plug into COM1? If so, you’ll need to shut down the HotSync Manager or disable “Local” syncing in order to use the serial port to download to the GPS.

I’m assuming this a real serial port on the back of your PC, not a virtual one created by using a USB to serial adapter cable? These adapters can have a number issues…

[Miata]

@Jeremy wrote:

@tywuest wrote:

I also use a palm for paperless caching. I have yet to try and update that because i am so frustrated with the gps not working.

Is the Palm an old serial Palm that you also plug into COM1? If so, you’ll need to shut down the HotSync Manager or disable “Local” syncing in order to use the serial port to download to the GPS.

I’m assuming this a real serial port on the back of your PC, not a virtual one created by using a USB to serial adapter cable? These adapters can have a number issues…

What Jeremy said. I had the same thing with using 2 different serial devices, that’s why I have been loading my GPS with a spare lap top.

[emtcop]

what you need to do is go to your control panel and then to performance and maintenance then go to admin tools then go to computer management then go to device manager then go to ports and see if your computer lists you gps as connected to the port the other thing to check is in mapsource that it is looking in the right port for your gps you should be able to choose from the drop down menu in the pop up when you try to send info to the gps theses are my idea give it a try if that does not work then just buy everything new and start over HAHAHa 😀 😆

[Ry and Ny]

You need to try the Palm. If that doesn’t work either, your issue is probably with the serial port on the computer.

If the Palm works, you probably have an issue with either the GPS or the cord leading to the GPS.

Odds are, if you’re not showing connected in either software package, Device Manager isn’t going to show the connection either.

[tywuest]

I tried the palm and that worked!

Now i have to figure out what is going on with the gpsr. Thanks and ill keep trying.

I do like the buy everything new idea but im guessing the other half wont.

[tywuest]

I think it was the palm sync program… I exited that program and all seems to be working now. I cant remember if i ever did that before. Thanks we should be in business soon.

[Author]

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